“I want this record to be the first in a line of records that I say ‘I’m really proud of everything we did.’”—Tommy Siegal.
They’re baaaack. Jukebox the Ghost is returning to the 9:30 Club as they tour their third album Safe Travels. And the band, which includes Ben Thornewill (piano, vocals), Tommy Siegal (guitar, vocals), and Jesse Kristin (drums), certainly has traveled quite a bit. The Brooklyn-based group, which met in Washington, DC, at the George Washington University, moved from New York to Philadelphia after the release of their second album in 2010. Prior to its release, they toured and traveled across Europe.
Their traveling continued in 2011 and 2012 as they opened for Barenaked Ladies and Jack’s Mannequin, respectively. We’ve got your opportunity to accompany them as their trip continues with a chance to see them live this weekend!
The production of this album differs from their previous two thanks to the band’s collaboration with a new producer, Dan Romer, who is well-known for his work with artists like Ingrid Michaelson and Jenny Owens Young. Unlike previous producers, Romer understood Jukebox’s directional aspirations, and so the band was given the opportunity to create an album that truly embodied their creative focus. The result is a mix of genres and styles in their songs, from the gospel ballad “The Spiritual” to the high-energy pop of “Oh Emily.” It’s a combination that accurately reflects their progression from where they started while hinting to what Jukebox the Ghost has yet to become.
Artist Matt Pond, formerly known as Matt Pond-PA, is opening with his newly released solo album The Lives, along with The Spring Standards, who are touring their double-EP yellow//gold. Each are traveling through their own transformations: Pond, with his partnership with a new label, and The Spring Standards, with their exploration of their musical identity through their contrasting double album. On a literal level, these Pennsylvania-grown bands have traveled a lot too, and both are now located in New York, an interesting juxtaposition with Jukebox the Ghost’s own experiences.
The first concert I went to in DC after traveling from California was Jukebox the Ghost, so to commemorate that event, all you have to do for your chance to win to see these guys live is name the first artist you ever saw in concert and the best song they played that night in the comments below.
The winner will be chosen at noon on Thursday, March 14. If you don’t win, make sure to grab your tickets to see them on March 16!
